Cessna U206G and Bell 206A mid-air collision near Brooklyn, New York, July 22, 1983
On July 22, 1983 at about 12:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna U206G (N5328X) and Bell 206A (N4797R), were involved in a mid-air collision near Brooklyn, New York. 4 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1983 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Brooklyn, New York · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N5328X · no longer on the register · serial U20605647
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Bell 206A · all 206As on the register
- Registration
- N4797R · no longer on the register · serial 330
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna U206G final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA U206G FLOAT PLANE, N5328X, & A BELL 206A POLICE HELICOPTER, N4797R, COLLIDED IN FLT OVER BROOKLYN, NY. THE AIRCREW OF THE POLICE HELICOPTER WERE ON A TRAFFIC OBSERVATION FLT & HAD JUST REPORTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF A TOLL STATION WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE FLOAT PLANE WAS ARRIVING ON AN AIR TAXI FLT TO THE WALL STREET AREA OF MANHATTAN, NY. A SURVIVING PASSENGER OF THE FLOAT PLANE SAID IT WAS IN A LEFT TURN WHEN SHE SAW THE HELICOPTER, JUST PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED THRU THE ROOF OF AN UNOCCUPIED GARAGE BUILDING. THE FLOAT PLANE MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT, WOBBLING SIDE-TO-SIDE, & CRASHED IN THE EAST RIVER. THE 2 REAR SEAT PASSENGERS EGRESSED BEFORE THE PLANE SANK. THE PLT & FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE INJURED & DROWNED. DIVER'S BELIEVED THAT NEITHER OF THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE USING THEIR SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S SHOULDER HARNESS WAS FOUND STOWED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Bell 206A final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA U206G FLOAT PLANE, N5328X, & A BELL 206A POLICE HELICOPTER, N4797R, COLLIDED IN FLT OVER BROOKLYN, NY. THE AIRCREW OF THE POLICE HELICOPTER WERE ON A TRAFFIC OBSERVATION FLT & HAD JUST REPORTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF A TOLL STATION WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE FLOAT PLANE WAS ARRIVING ON AN AIR TAXI FLT TO THE WALL STREET AREA OF MANHATTAN, NY. A SURVIVING PASSENGER OF THE FLOAT PLANE SAID IT WAS IN A LEFT TURN WHEN SHE SAW THE HELICOPTER, JUST PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED THRU THE ROOF OF AN UNOCCUPIED GARAGE BUILDING. THE FLOAT PLANE MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT, WOBBLING SIDE-TO-SIDE, & CRASHED IN THE EAST RIVER. THE 2 REAR SEAT PASSENGERS EGRESSED BEFORE THE PLANE SANK. THE PLT & FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE INJURED & DROWNED. DIVER'S BELIEVED THAT NEITHER OF THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE USING THEIR SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S SHOULDER HARNESS WAS FOUND STOWED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna U206G from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,353 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 18, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Waterfront Airways,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Atlantic High NJ
- Destination: Manhattan NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from TEB, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
The factual record for the Bell 206A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,040 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 7,520 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,563 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 15, 1983; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brooklyn NY
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.